Time switch



R. SCHLEMM Nov. 15, 1932;

TIME SWITCH Filed Jan. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. sc

TIME sWITCH HHHIIIIHHHIIHHIHHIII W W Filed Jan. 14. 1928 Nov. '15, 1932.

R. SCHLEMM TIME SWITCH Nov. 15, 1932.

a Sheets-Sheet a Filed Jan. 14, 1928 fiaeizfi 06011501161711):

Patented Nov. 15,

PATENT OFFICE 308ml SCHLEMI, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS TIME SWITCH 'Application Med January 14, 1928. Serial No. 218,897.

This invention relates to time switches. The object of the invention is to provide a spring time switch which ma be set to func tion at different intervals time, which is simple in construction, effective and dependable in operation and which may be manufactured at relatively small cost.

To effect the objects of the invention, a motor embodying my invention and improvements comprises the various features, combinations of features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanyin drawings in which my invention is fully il ustrated,

Figures 1 and 3 are front elevations of a time switch embodying my invention and improvements, shown as applied in use to a usual form oftoaster, shown diagrammati cally, respectively, showing the switch set and passive. 7'

Figures 2 and 4 are sectional elevations both taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 5, respectively-showing the parts in set and passive positions.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevat on taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken, substantlally, on the line 6-6 of Fi' 1; and

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged etached, detail views.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have, for purposes of clear and definite illustration, shown my im roved time switch as a plied in use to a read toaster of what is own as the flip-flopitype, A designates the toaster as a whole, which is indicated diagrammaticall only, and V designatesmy improved time switch as a whole.

The toaster is of a usual type and can be purchased commercially and need not, therefore, be described in detail.

\The operative parts of my'improved time switch are mounted on a frame which preferably is constructed and arran ed to form a casing, designated as a w ole b. As shown, said casing comprises a base plate i 1 of relatively heavy sheet brass or other 53 suitable material, adapted to be secured to switch is a lever 14 adapted for manual opan end wall of the frameof the toaster the plate 4 is connected to the plate 3 by means of posts 5 and 6. As shown, the cover plate 2 is also supported by a post 7 which, as shown, forms an outer section of the post 6. Specifically, the construction of the frame 6 is immaterial and can readily be supplied b skilled mechanics and need not, therefore, e described in further detail.

The shafts 8,8 to which the plates a of the toaster, which support the bread to be toasted, are" secured, and which exemplify any rotatable member or members extend through the base plate 1 of the casing b of the switch into the interior of said casing and secured thereto within said'casing are segmental, gears 9, 9' which are connected in train by intermediate idle gears 10, 10' which intermesh with each other and whicli res'pectively intermesh with the se mental gears 9, .9. In the time controll operation of my im roved switch, the shafts 8, 8' aremaintaine normally in positions corresponding to turned-down ositions of the toast supporting plates a y means presently described, and are adapted to be rotated manually to turn said toast sup orting plates into operative position byinec anism as follows: Rotatably mounted on a stud 11 within the casing b is a sleeve 12 secured to which is a cam plate 13 and secured to the outer end of said sleeve which projects through the cover plate- 2 of the casing of the eration. Formed on the cam plate 13 is a cam surface 15 which is adapted to engage a stud 16 secured inthe gear 10, the relation being such that when the lever 14 is depressed, the' cam surface 15 will engage the stud 16 in a manner to impart rotation to the gear 10' and thus to the gear 10 and the segmental gears 9, 9 througha'n are sufficient to raise the toast supporting plates 0 of the toaster from inoperative into operative positions. 100

Applied to the cam plate 13 is a spring 17 toast supporting plates a into operative position and released, said spring also operating to return said hand lever 14 to raised position.

In accordance with my invention, the

shafts 8, 8' are adapted to be turned into and maintained in positions corresponding to' turned-down or inoperative positions 0 the toast supporting plates a, by means as follows:-

Rotatabl mounted on a stud 18 secured in the base p ate 1 of the frame of the switch is a plate 19 applied to which is a spring 20, one end of which is connected to a pin or stud 21 secured in said plate and the opposite end of which is connected to a rigid part of the switch frame.

- The only function of the spring 20 is to turn the toast supporting plates a into turned-down position. Thus the spring is relatively light and can be made quite short, as shown, the ends thereof being connected to the stud 21 and to the fixed support by means of small wires.

Formed on the pivoted plate 19 is a shoulder 22 which is positioned so as to engage the stud 16 secured in the gear 10' when rotation is imparted to the plate 19 b the spring 20. referably, the reaction 0 said spring is only sufficient to impart rotation to said gear 10' and associated parts, to turn the toast su porting plates a through the initial arcs 0 their movement from operative to inoperative positionssay 30 degreesfurther movement of said plates to inoperative or turned-down positions being effected by ravity. 1 v

v ith the described construction, when the cam 13 is operated to turn the toast supporting plates (1 into operative position, it is ob.-

vious that it will be necessary to render the spring 20 inactive, as otherwise, said spring, acting on the plate 19, would return the toast supporting plates (1 to inoperative position as soon as the hand lever 14 was released, thus permitting the spring 17 to retract the cam plate 13.

In accordance with my invention, the

spring 20 is thus rendered inactive during the toasting period by means as follows Formed on the plate 19 is a lug 23 which is positioned in the path of movement of the cam surface 15 on the cam plate 13 when said cam plate is turned pivotally by depression ofthe hand lever 14 to raise the toaster plates a, the relative positions of the stud 21 and lug 23 being such that rotation of the plate 19 by the cam plate 13 will cause the line of tension of the spring 20 between its point of attachment to its fixed support on the switch frame and to the stud 21, respectively, to throw past its dead point, in which position it will bemainta'ined against the tension of the spring 20 by engagement of a shoulder 24 on said plate with a stud 25 secured in fixed position in the base plate 1 of the switch frame. With the descrlbed construction, it is obvious that when the shoulder 24 on said plate is in contact with the stud 25, the spring 20, though under tension, will be inert and that the toast supporting plates a will remain in turned-up operative positions until the plate 19 is again rotated a sufficient distance in a reverse direction to cause the shoulder 22 thereon to approach the stud 16, and the line of tension of the spring 20 to again pass its dead point, whereuponsaid spring will again become active .and will rotate said plate to efi'ect engagement of the shoulder 22 thereon with the stud 16 secured in the ear 10', further rotation of said plate by sai spring imparting corresponding rotation to the gear 10 and associated parts to turn the toast supporting plates a through the initial arcs of their movement towards turned-down position. Full turned-down position of the plates a is de ned by contact of a shoulder 26 on said stud 25 which also limits rotation of the plate 19 and gear 10". i

The position of the plate 19 defined by contact of the shoulder 26 with the stud 25 corresponds to designed operative position of the lug 23 relative to the actuating cam surface 15, when the toast supporting plates (1 are in turned-down inoperative positions.

' As shown, when the plate 19 is in position corresponding to turned-up positions of the toaster plates a, the shoulder 22 is preferably positioned between the studs 21 and 16 and at an ap reciable distance from the stud 16, so that w en said plate is reversely rotated in operation to effect engagement of'the shoulder 22 thereon with the stud 16, contact of plate 19 with the I said shoulder with said stud will not occur proved switch einbodes means for rotating 1 the plate 19 to throw the line of tension of the spring 20 from inert to active position and to effect engagement of the shoulder 22 on said plate with the stud 16, as follows :Mounted to rotate on the sleeve 12 is a gear 27 and rotat-ably mounted on the stud 11 which forms a bearing for the sleeve 12 is an arm 28, the unders de of which is positioned in the path of movement of a stud 29 secured in the gear 27, when said gear is rotated in an anticlockape-mas wise direction, the position of the lug 29 relative to thelower ed e of the arm 28 being such that said stud W111 engage the underside of the arm 28 substantiall of the toasting interval. s shown, t e lower edge of the outer end of the arm 28 rests .on the stud and'secured in the late 19 is a stud or pin which when sai late 19 is in position corresponding to turne -up or operative position of the toaster plates a, is positioned as closely adjacent as practicable to a surface 31 formed adjacent to the end of the upper edge of said-arm 28, in which position ver slight ivotal movement of the arm 28 will e sufiicient to rotate the plate 19 to throw the line of tension of the spring 20 from inert to active position;

As shown, the gear 27 meshes with a inion 32 on the shaft of a usual form o clock spring motor, comprising a spring 33 which is enclosed in a barrel 34, opposite ends of said spring being secured to sa1d motor shaft and barrel, respectively. Rotation of the shaft of the s ring motor and also of the gear 27 is retardiad by means of a usual form of fan overnor com risin a fan 35 a inion secured to the shaft of which is connected in train with the pinion on the motor shaft.

As shown also, the pinion 32 is mounted on the shaft of the spring motor so asto turn thereon and is adapted to be secured thereto by means of a pawl and ratchet gear, as shown at 36, Fig. 7.

In the preferable construction shown, the manner of applying the spring 20to the plate 19 is such that the toast su porting plates a may be turned manually rom operative to inoperative positions and vice versa, without affecting the set of said spring and plate, which will function in the contemplated manner at the end of the toasting period, if the spring 20 is under tension. Preferably, also, my invention contemplates a construction whereby the spring 20 may be rendered altogether inoperative, thus adapting the toaster for manual operation only.

In accordance with my invention, this is effected in the followingmanner: The end of the wire which anchors said spring 20 to the frame of the device, instead of being attached directly to a rigid part of the frame of the device, is attached to what may be designated a bale 37 rotatably mounted by means of trunnions 38, 38' in bearings 39 formed in the ends of a yoke 40 secured'in proper position to the frame 6, the relation being such that when the bale is turned into position to bring the spring 20 under tension, the line of tension of said spring will pass on one side of the axis of rotation of thetrunnions 38, 38' and a rigid part-asshown the lower edge of the intermediate portion 41 of the bale 37will rest in contact with the at the ex irationmachine frame at a point to resist turning v movement of said bale by said s ring.

With the construction descri d, it is obvious that when the bale 37 is in the position shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8, and the plate 19 is turned into the osition shown in Fig. 4 in which the line of tension of the spring 20 has passed be ond-the axis of rotation of said plate 19, 1t is obvious, that the shafts 8, 8, the segments 9, 9' secured thereto and the gears. 10, 10' may beturned pivotally by hand to lower and raise the toast supporting plates a without in any way affecting the posltions of the plate 19 and bale 37 With the described construction it is also obvious that b turning the bale 37 in an anticlockwise irection to cause the line of tension of the spring 20/to pass the axis of rotation of the trunnions 38,38, said spring 20 will become inert, and the toaster adapte for manual 0 eration only as the trip mechanism control ed by said p ate 19 and spring 20 will be inoperative.

Obviously, also, said spring may a ain be rendered operative by turning the ba e 37 in a clockwise direction to return it to its position -shown in Fi 2, 4 and 8. a

As tripping o the throw-oil plate 19 is effected by engagement of the stud. 29 secured in the gear 27 with the trip-arm 28, it is obvious that the toasting interval or period will be substantially e ual to the time required for the gear 2 actuated by the spring motor-to traverse an are equal to that which se arates the in 29 from the trip arm 28, and t at by provlding means for turnin sa1d gear 27 in a clockwise direction throug different arcs, the toastin interval or period magbe varied within deslgned limits.

accordance with my invention, the toasting interval or period is controlledby means as follows :--Pivoted upon the sleeve 12 adjacent to the gear 27 is a lever arm 42 formed on one end of which is a lug 43 adapted to engage the teeth of said gear, the end of said lever arm 42 at the opposite side of the sleeve 12 from. said lug 43 comprisin a portion 44 which diverges from. the ace projects through a circular slot 45 formed in the cover plate 2 of the motor frame,

the outer end 46 of which is positioned, normally, at a suitable distance from the adjacent side of the cover plate 2, to permit rocking movement of the lever arm 42 7 about its point of divergence from the gear 27, as a fulcrum, sufiicient to effect disengagement of the lug 43 on said lever arm from the teeth of the gear 27. Said lever arm 42 is maintained yieldingly in osition corresponding to en agement of t e lug 43-thereon with a toot ofithe gear 27 by a coiled sprin 47 inserted between said lever arm and t e outer wall of the cover plate 2. The

hole 'or opening in said lever arm, which replatesa are to remain in turned-up position.

Rotation of the gear 27 to provide an arc of desired length between the stud 29 and the underside of the trip'arm 28 is efiected by means of the cam plate 13, a shoulder or surface 48 on which is adapted to engage the In 43 on the lever arm, when said cam is turned by depression of the operating lever 14. Thus, by manipulating the lever arm 42 to effect engagement of the lug 43 with the proper tooth of the gear-27, it is obvious that any desired toasting period or interval may be obtained between designed maximum and minimum periods.

,I claim:

- 1. In apparatus of the type specified, the combination of an actuated member supported so as to be rotatable in opposite directions, power actuated means adapted for turning said member in one direction, and means comprising a single manually operable lever and a cam secured thereto so as to turn therewith, for turning said actuated member against the force of said power actuated means, and for subjecting said power actuated means to and securing it under operating tension, time-controlled tripping means for freeing said power actuated means when under tension, and means for setting said tripping means which also comprises said manually operable lever and cam.

2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in which the means connecting the common operating lever and cam with the actuated mem ber comprises a gear secured to said actuated member, a normally idle rotatable gear which intermeshes therewith, and a projection on said gear adapted for engagement by an actuating surface of said cam.

3. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in which the means for subjecting the power actuated means to and for securing it under tension comprises a pivoted plate, a stop which limits turning movement of said plate, a spring which connects said plate with a fixed support, and a projection on said pivoted plate adapted for engagement by an actuating surface of the cam, the relation being such that rotation of said cam will turn said pivoted plate to subject the spring applied thereto to tension and to cause the line of tension of said spring to pass its dead point and to effect contact of a rigid part of said plate with the stop which limits its turning movement.

4. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in

which the means for subjecting the power actuated means to and for securing it under tension comprises a pivoted plate, a stop which limits turning movement of said plate, a spring which connects said plate with a movably supported part, and means for limiting turning movement of said part, the relation being such that when said movably supported part is in one extreme position the spring applied to said plate may be brought into tension by turning movement of said plate, and such also that when said movably supported part is moved into another position said spring will be unaffected by turning movement of said pivoted plate, and a projection on said pivoted plate adapted for engagement by an actuating surface of the cam.

55. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in which the time-controlled tripping means comprises a pivoted arm, a tripping member rotatably mounted in association with said pivoted arm, a projection on said tripping member adapted to engage said pivoted arm to turn the same, motor means applied to said rotatable tripping member, and means rendered operatlve by manipulation of the common operating lever and cam for turning said tripping member against the force of said motor. 7

6. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in which the time-controlled tripping means comprises a pivoted arm, a tripping member rotatably mounted in association with said pivoted arm, a projection on said'tripping A member adapted to engage said pivoted arm to turn the same, motor means applied to said rotatable tripping member, means rendered operative by manipulation of the common operating lever and cam for turning said rotatable tripping member against the force of said clock-spring motor, and means for varying the length of the are through which sald tripping member will be turned.

7. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in which the time-controlled tripping means comprises a pivoted arm, a tripping member rotatably mounted in association with said pivoted arm, a projection on said tripping member adapted to engage the pivoted arm to turn said arm, motor means applied to said rotatable tripping member, and means rendered operative by manipulation of the common operating lever and cam for turning said rotatable tripping member against the force of said motor means through an arc of desired length, comprising a projection on said rotatable tripping member adapted for engagement by a part of said cam.

8. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in which the time-controlled tripping means comprises a pivoted arm, a tripping member rotatably mounted in association with said pivoted arm, a projection on said tripping member adapted to engage the pivoted 'arm to turn said arm, motor means applied to said rotatable tripping member, means rendered operative by manipulation of the common 0perating lever and cam for turning said rotatable tripping member against the force of said clock-spring motor through an arc of desired length, comprising an adjustable projection on said pivoted tripping member adapted for engagement by a part of said cam, and means for securing said projection on said tripping member in adjusted position.

9. Apparatus as specified in claim 1, in. which the time-controlled tripping means comprises a pivoted arm, a rotatable tripping member, a projection on said tripping member'adapted to engage the pivoted arm to turn said arm, motor means applied to said pivoted tripping member, means rendered operative by manipulation of the common operating lever and cam for turning said rotatable tripping member against the force of said motor through an arc of desired length, a projection on said rotatable tripping member adapted for engagement by a part of said cam, means for adjusting the position of said projection and for securing it in adjusted positions on said tripping member, comprising a pivoted lever arm supported adjacent said tripping member so as to permit rocking movement thereof, a lug on one end of said lever arm adapted to engage teeth formed in said tripping member, the end of said iever arm remote from said lug diverging from the face of said tripping member in such relation that pressure on the outer end thereof will impart rocking movement thereto to disengage the lug thereon from the teeth in said tripping member, and a spring adapted for moving said member in one di rection, means comprising a single manually o erable lever for moving said actuated mem er against the force of said power actuated means, and for subjecting said power actuated means to and securing it under operating tension, adjustable 'time controlled means for tripping said power actuated means when under tension, and means for setting said tripping means which also comprises said manually operable lever, the relation being such that during the interval for which the time-controlled tripping means is set, the actuated member may be moved in different directions without tripping the power actuated means.

12. Apparatus as specified in claim 11, in which the operating lever always executes a stroke of substantially uniform lengthregardless of variations in the timing, and the time-controlled tripping means comprises an adjustable member through which the operating lever acts to set said tripping means, the relation being such that said tripping means will be set during the final portion of the stroke of the operating lever.

In witness that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 afix my signature this 23 day of December, A. D. 192?.

ROBERT SCHLEMM..

applied to said lever arm adapted to maintain the same yieldingly in position to effect engagement of the projection thereon with the teeth in said tripping member.

10. A paratus as specified in claim 1, in which t e power actuated means applied, to the actuated member and the means for securing said power actuated means under tension comprise a pivoted plate, a stop adapted to limit turning movement of said plate, a spring which connects said plate with a movably supported part, and means for limiting movement of said part, the relation being such that when said movably supported part is in one extreme position, the spring applied to said plate may be brought into tension by rotation of said plate, thus providing the motive force for turning the actuated member in one direction, and the relation being such also that when said movably supported part is moved into another position, said spring will be unaffected by turning movement of said pivoted plate, thus eliminating power operation of said actuated member.

11. In apparatus of the type s ecified, the combination of an actuated mem er movable in different directions, power actuated means 

